Hi Gilly23
![welcomemm :welcomemm:](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/welcomemm.gif)
Just to clarify - yes there are many women who take HRT well into their 60s, 70s and beyond (I still take HRT at 70) but it is generally recommended to START HRT within 10 years of menopause or below the age of 60. However starting later than this is not ruled out. Here are the British Menopause Society recommendations:
"
HRT prescribed before the age of 60 has a favourable benefit/risk profile.
HRT initiated before the age of 60 or within 10 years of the menopause is likely to be associated with a reduction in coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality.
If HRT is to be used in women over 60 years of age, lower doses should be started, preferably with a transdermal route of estradiol administration. Evidence from the Cochrane data-analysis as well as that from the long-term follow-up data of the WHI showed no increase in cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality or all-cause mortality in women who initiated HRT more than 10 years after the menopause."
https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bms-whcs-2020-recommendations-on-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-menopausal-women/If you have success then be sure to ask the private specialist to write to your GP with recommendations for your treatment so that you can then get HRT ( if it is prescribed) on NHS.
We all need to remember, and to remind reluctant GPs that the menopause specialist service is almost non-existent in many areas on NHS - and if it were widespread, then you would be referred on NHS to this service, and the GP would automatically follow the advice. It is shocking that women feel compelled to seek private treatment due to inadequate service but the same principles should apply - the local GP should follow the specialist consultant's advice, in the absence of this service being available locally on NHS.
ALso to add that many women need systemic HRT as well as vaginal HRT to feel comfortable re vaginal issues. I take both, at age 70.
Let us know how you get on.
Hurdity x